Venus Williams books place in Indian Wells semi-finals for first time since 2001
The 37-year-old continued her run of fine form with a swift dismissal of Carla Suarez Navarro in a little over an hour
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Your support makes all the difference.Venus Williams secured her spot in the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells for the first time since 2001.
The 37-year-old continued her run of fine form with a swift dismissal of Carla Suarez Navarro in the quarter-finals, winning 6-3 6-2 in a little over an hour.
Williams needed just one break - to go 4-2 up - in the opening set, before breaking again in the first game of the second.
Suarez Navarro fought hard to break straight back and level the scoreline, but a determined Williams broke two more times to claim the victory, even holding her nerve when faced with 0-40 on her serve at 3-2.
Her straight-sets victory means Williams has not yet dropped a set this tournament, where she also beat younger sister Serena in the third round.
Twenty-year-old Daria Kasatkina awaits in the semi-finals - the number 20 seed who has already dispatched of three grand slam champions in consecutive games this week.
The Russian defeated US Open winner Sloane Stephens in the third round and defending Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round, before stunning Angelique Kerber in the quarter-finals.
The 2011 US Open winner was brushed aside 6-0 6-2 after just 57 minutes on court.
An impressive backhand sealed an immediate break for Kasatkina, and a short backhand winner helped her move up a double break.
Her opponent, meanwhile, struggled, landing just 40% of first serves and winning only six points on her serve across the opening set.
Kerber managed to improve her statistics in the second, but failed to take advantage of opportunities.
She was broken twice in the second set, both conceded on costly backhand errors.
In the end, Kasatkina needed just one match point to clinch the win, and progress to the semi-finals.
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